The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and relevant links.

Garden Pollination

The bumblebee photographed above (believed to be Bombus terrestris) is a common garden bee in continental Europe. These important pollinators often live near human settlements where they visit an enormous variety of flowering plants, crops and wildflowers. Bumblebees collect pollen to feed their larva, such as this bee in Auray, France. The bee above is in the process of pollinating a passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) flower, and is being coated in pollen, which it will transfer to other flowers. Bumblebees thrive in flower-rich areas, wild grasslands and pesticide-free gardens. When bee populations decline, crop harvests are reduced. Photo taken on July 29, 2015.